After returning from a four-game stint with the Detroit Red Wings, where he backed up Chris Osgood while Dominik Hasek nursed an injured groin, Howard has given up five goals in back-to-back games. It started with a 6-5 shootout loss to the Rockford IceHogs on Friday night, and continued with a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Marlies on Saturday night at Van Andel Arena.

It was the Griffins' fifth straight loss in which they've been outscored 26-14. Saturday's loss also kept the Griffins winless at Van Andel Arena in five games this season.

Against Toronto, Grand Rapids actually trailed 5-1 but rallied with three straight goals. But they couldn't notch the tying goal in the final minute to force overtime.

After the game, Howard shouldered much of the blame, saying he'll continue to work hard and wait for the pucks to start bouncing the right way.

"We're getting a lot of bad luck, but we're not making breaks for ourselves either. When you're down 5-2 and you start really playing, that can't happen," Howard said. "It's got to be from the drop of the puck. From the goaltender out, you've got to be ready to roll."

Howard, making his first pair of starts since Oct. 24, said the two-week layoff didn't have any impact on his play over the weekend.

"It shouldn't. That's definitely not an excuse," he said. "I mean, being up there (in Detroit) and facing those shots, you should still be ready to come back down here and step right in."

Instead, Howard said watching Osgood play for a few games was a good learning experience. Facing shots from the Red Wings in practice also helped him stay sharp.

Howard wouldn't say whether he preferred to stay in Grand Rapids and play or return to Detroit, where he primarily would back up Osgood or Hasek.

"That's not my call. Wherever they put me, that's where I have to play and know my roll," Howard said. "If I'm down here, it's win games and if it's up there, it's just working hard and trying to get a shot."

In six games with the Griffins this season, Howard is 3-2-1 with a .887 save percentage and a 3.62 goals against average.